As hard as it is to imagine, just squinting, frowning, and even smiling can cause wrinkles.  Wrinkles can cause you to appear tired or even angry when you are not.

One of the quickest and safest remedies to remove wrinkles is botox cosmetic.  No anesthesia is required, although the area may be numbed with a cold pack or anesthetic cream prior to injecting.  The entire procedure takes approximately ten minutes.  Discomfort is minimal and brief.  Botox cosmetic lasts up to four months.

If you're considering botox cosmetic, this outline will give you a basic understanding of the procedure, when it can help, how it's performed, and what results you can expect.  It can't answer all of your questions, since a lot depends on the individual patient and the surgeon.  Dr. Walker is more than happy to clarify any misunderstandings, please contact her office with any questions or concerns you may have.

Botox injections may seem like a simple enough procedure, just a few shots in the face, but considering there are 43 muscles in your face it is vital that the person who performs your injections be an experienced healthcare professional.  A very thin (and sharp!) needle is used to inject small amounts of botox cosmetic into only the wrinkle-producing muscles, preserving your natural facial expressions.

Botox cosmetic treatment injections usually take less than 15 minutes.  The number of injections you need will depend on multiple factors, including your facial features and the extent of your wrinkles.  Crow's feet, for example, usually demand two to three injections.  Furrows above your brow could take five or more.  No anesthesia is required and there is no down time or recovery time.

You may notice results within a few days, but it can take up to a week to see the full effect.  This improvement typically lasts about three to four months.  When the effects of botulinum toxin begin to fade, your muscle reactions and the wrinkles will return. If you have more questions about botox cosmetic, take a look at our resources and education section.

Botox cosmetic can't fix every wrinkle.  For the best advice to whether it can help you, schedule a no obligation consultation with Dr. Walker.

Understanding this, the best candidates for botox cosmetic are physically healthy and have no history of neuromuscular diseases (such as multiple sclerosis or myasthenia gravis), are not pregnant or nursing and who are at least 18 years old.

Other conditions that you should discuss with your doctor prior to Botox cosmetic treatments include:

• Existing weakness in the targeted muscles
• Ptosis (drooping eyelids)
• Deep facial scars
• Very thick facial skin
• Marked facial asymmetry
• Skin disorders around the planned injection sites